Job Description

ABOUT THE ACLU OF KANSAS

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas is a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Kansas Constitution. The ACLU of Kansas works in the state legislature, the courts, and local communities to protect the rights of all people living in Kansas. The organization’s work includes efforts to strengthen and defend First Amendment rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBT rights, immigrants’ rights, stopping government surveillance, and reforming the criminal legal system.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Kansas seeks a dynamic, creative, self-motivated team player to serve as its Director of Policy and Research. This senior-level position will oversee the organization’s broad-based policy advocacy, development, and research program at the local and state levels. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the position may be based either at the ACLU of Kansas’s primary office in Overland Park or a new site in Wichita (preferred).

The Director of Policy and Research will spend approximately 35% of their time on local policy/advocacy efforts, 25% of time on state legislative work, 25% of time on research/policy development, and 15% of time on managerial/strategic tasks.

During the Kansas legislative session, this staff person will be expected to be in the state capitol in Topeka as appropriate. The ACLU of Kansas is also deeply engaged in policy work at the city and county level in jurisdictions across Kansas; as a result, this position involves some travel to communities around the state. This is a management position, with supervisory responsibility for a department that will grow during 2025 to include three other full-time employees.

The ACLU of Kansas has adopted a “campaign” approach for its work. Work is focused on pursuing specific integrated advocacy campaigns to achieve measurable goals that will expand civil liberties, while building the long-term power of the ACLU and the civil liberties movement. The organization’s campaigns for the next several years are criminal legal reform and voting rights. Both campaigns have policy objectives they seek to attain at the state level and at the local level.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership and oversight of the ACLU of Kansas’s policy program—including policy development, analysis, advocacy, and research—by creating and implementing policy campaigns consistent with organizational priorities.
• Develop and implement the ACLU of Kansas’s local and state policy agenda utilizing appropriate strategies and tactics, with an emphasis on the affiliate’s issue campaign priorities and securing policy victories at the local level.
• Analyze and track state- and local-level policy proposals.
• Analyze policy issues from a constitutional/civil liberties perspective and prepare policy proposals, background materials, reports, and public-facing documents based on that analysis.
• Draft legislation, amendments, policy proposals, and recommendations for policy-makers.
• Develop and implement a research agenda focused on the organization’s priority civil liberties issues. 
• Lead research into civil liberties policy issues in Kansas, including through the collection and analysis of original data.
• Prepare and deliver both written and oral testimony in policy-making contexts.
• Build trusted relationships with lawmakers, agency decision-makers, legislative staff, executive branch officials, lobbyists, local elected officials, and other stakeholders by providing clear, fact-based analysis and resources; identify opportunities for bipartisan, cross-ideological support on ACLU issues.
• Engage in direct advocacy with elected members of the legislature, legislative staff, executive branch staff, members of Congress, and local elected officials.
• Develop strategies and work in partnership with allied organizations, individuals and diverse coalitions, including engaging in coalition management.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other ACLU-KS staff to plan and implement effective multi-disciplinary and integrated advocacy policy initiatives, involving a combination of policy, legal, communication, public education, and especially organizing strategies.
• Participate in legislative interim activity, legislative hearings, local-level policy-making meetings, and participate in policy- related workgroups, coalitions and meetings.
• Respond to media requests on policy issues and represent the ACLU of Kansas at events, forums, and meetings.
• Prepare written materials, including action alerts, talking points, issue briefs, reports, op-eds and website updates, in collaboration with other staff members.
• Work collaboratively with the national ACLU and other ACLU affiliates to advance nationwide policy priorities.
• Attend national and regional ACLU training, staff conferences, and issue-oriented events.
• Identify emerging civil liberties and racial justice issues.
• Foster individual and team resilience to promote a culture of continuous growth.
• Supervise departmental staff in their performance of advocacy, policy, and research tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA required; MA in public policy-related discipline or JD strongly preferred.
• At least five years of local, state, and/or national-level legislative, political or policy advocacy work, with a strong preference for Kansas experience. Experience working in policy development and policy research required.
• Experience working on racial justice issues and using a racial justice lens.
• Understanding of the policy-making process.
• At least two years of experience as a manager and a record of investing in the professional development of staff.
• Ability to build respectful relationships across the political spectrum and in diverse communities.
• Substantial knowledge of civil liberties and civil rights issues and a commitment to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission and goals.
• Excellent analytical, communication (written and oral), and research skills, with the ability to articulate policy/legal concepts and complex issues tactfully and effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to develop allies and work collaboratively in coalitions; ability to navigate internal dynamics among partner groups.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse groups, work cooperatively with communities across the political spectrum and a personal approach that values and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
• Initiative, vision, and ability to develop and implement short and long-term policy strategies utilizing a broad range of advocacy, education, and organizing tactics.
• Exceptional ability to work independently and keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage several projects simultaneously, and adjust strategy to frequently changing demands.
• Understanding of how to work collaboratively with colleagues across departments and functions; experience in integrated advocacy strongly preferred.
• Commitment to the highest ethical standards of advocacy and professionalism.
• Ability to work non-standard hours during legislative session and travel to meetings and events throughout the state, as needed.
• An unwavering passion for the mission and goals of the ACLU, including demonstrated interest in civil liberties, equity and racial justice is essential.

COMPENSATION

The starting salary for the Director of Policy and Research is $82,000; starting salary is negotiable commensurate with experience.

BENEFITS

Staff members have access to a range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits: The ACLU of Kansas pays the full premium for the health care coverage for the employee and ~70% for dependents.
• Retirement Package: including automatic enrollment in the organization’s Contribution Plan.
• Longevity Payments paid yearly and gradually increasing based upon the anniversary date of hire.
• Generous Paid Time Off includes 17 paid holidays, vacation, personal, and sick PTO.
• Employee Assistance Plan offers support to help employees to manage everyday life issues.
• Flexibility: ACLU of Kansas follows a hybrid schedule model allowing staff to work remotely for up to three days per week.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Submit a letter of interest, resume, and a professional writing sample of 3-5 pages to Vanessa Phipps, Senior HR Consultant, [email protected]. No calls please. Please put “ Director of Policy and Research – YOUR NAME” in the subject line of your email.

In your letter of interest, please indicate where you learned of the opportunity if possible. Applicants who proceed beyond first round interviews will be asked to complete a short work-related assignment.

The job announcement will remain on our website for 30 days or until the position is filled, whichever is longer. No phone calls or in-person applications, please. The ACLU of Kansas strongly encourages formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Kansas reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU of Kansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Kansas encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal record, or veteran status. The ACLU of Kansas undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

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